Gas-burner



(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 1.

J'. M. FOSTER.

GAS BURNER.

' ented Dec. 28, 1886.

(No Mndel.) 3 Sheeats-Sheet 2.

J. M..P0STER.

u GAS BURNER. I No. 355,158. Patented Dec. 2a, 18.85.

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43 Sheetsf-Sheet- 3.;

(No Moa-e1.)

J; M. POSTER'.

GAS BURNER.

No. 355,158.- Patented Dec. 28 1886.

Flai 6,

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. EoS'rEE, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-BURNER.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,158, dated December 28, 1886.

Application tiled October 2, 1885.

Improvements in Gas-Burners, ot which the following is a specilication.

My invention consists of certain improvee ments in that class of lamps in which the gas flame is proj ected downward and the products ,O of combustion caused to ascend, so as to heat the incoming volumes of air and gas, the objects of my improvements being to insure a thorough heatingof the air and gas, to produce an intensely luminous flame of large area,

,5 to provide durable and economical dame deflectors and reflectors, to prevent the fracture of the globe by uneven expansion and contraction, and to cause the proper direction of the products ot combustion when lighting the 2O lamp.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse Section of a gaslamp constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a side View on a reduced scale, and with part of the Outer casing or hood removed; Fig. 3, a

perspective view of the burner with the outer shell removed; Fig. 4, a sectional plan on the line l' 2, Fig. l; Fig. 5, a sectional plan on the .line 3 4, Fig. 1"; Fig. 6, a sectional plan on the O line 5 6, Fig. l, and Fig. 7 a View showing a modification of part of the invention'. 4 and 5 are on the same scale as Fig. 2.

A is the annular burner body, which is shown more fully in Fig. 3, and consists of an F1 gs.

inner shell, a, having projecting perforated anges b, three ofv which are shown in the present instance, an external shell, d, being screwed onto the danged top of the shell a and tting snugly to the outer edges of the flanges 4C b, so as to form in the burner-body a series of annular chambers, 6, communicating with each other through the perforations in the flanges, the gas issuing from the perforations in the lowest flange in a number of fine jets,

and the perforations being so close together that the ignited gas forms a practically continuous annular body of flame.

The perforations in the flanges d are staggered or arranged lout of line with each other,

o so as to cause the volume of gas to take a circuitous course and bethoronghly broken up Serial No. 178,783. (No model.)

in itsV passage through the burner-body, the volumeoof gas as it issues from the perforations of the lowest flange being hence of uniform temperature throughout.

The air and gas heating structure of the lamp consists of a box having three annular casings or shells, B, D, and F, inclosing a central chamber, G H, out-er annular chamber, I, and an annular chamber, J, the latter communicating at the upper end` with the chimney K, and the annular chamber I communicatin'g at the lower end with the central chamber, G, through radial passagesf. Theburnerbody is carried by a pipe, M, and is contained in the lower portion ofthe chamber G, which is bounded by a cylinder, g, secured to the lower end ot' theshell B, and projecting somewhat below tlle lower edge of the burner-body, the flame of ignited gas issuingfrom the burner being caused to pass around the lower edge of the cylinder g, so that the products of combustion ascend the passage J, and escape finally from the chimney K.

The upper portion, H, of the central chamber of the Vlamp is separated from the lower portion, G, by a partition, h, and said upper chamber, H, forms a gas-heating chamber, the gas entering the same from the supply-pipe N through passages c', and passing under the lower edge of an annular deflector, k, beforeit canenter the upper end of the conveyer-pipe M, the lowerend ofthe latter communicating with the annular burner-body through radial arms m. Both the gas-pipe N and the upper portion of the casing or shell B, surrounding the chamber H, are in contact with the heated productsv of combustion rising through the passage J and chimney K, and as the shell B presents an extended surface the gas within the chamber H must receive a high degree of heat before it can escape through the pipe M.

Surrounding thc air and gas heating structure of the lamp is a casing or hood, P,which is supported by transverse bolts P', screwing into the shell F, this hood having at the lower end a ring, n, to which is hung the annular frame Q, carrying the glasslglobe S of the lamp. The combustion or iiarne chamber of the lamp is tightly closed by said globe S, the upper flanged edge of which is confined between a Aflange, p, on the frame Q, and a liange,

ICO

s', on a two-part ring, s, vertically confined to said 'ange p by transverse pins 2)', a packing strip of asbestus or like material being preferably introduced between the flange s and the flange at the top of the globe to insure a tight joint. Air to support combustion enters the annular space between the shell F and the hood P, and after ascending in this space passes over the top of the shell F, descends the chamber I, flows through the radial passagesf, and descends the chamber G,.a portion of-the air fiowing down between the out-Y side of the burner and the cylinder g, and another volume passing down through the ccnter of the burner. scending course, becomes very highly heated in its passage to the burner, and thus in connection with the high degree of heat imparted to the gas insures the production of a very luminous and almost white flame. The air receives its initial heating by radiation from the globe S as it rises past the globe prior to entering the mouth of the hood P, which is above and projects beyond said globe. The `air is then heated successively by contact with the lower portion of the shell F, the shell D, the walls of the passages f, the shell B, and cylinder g, all of these parts being intensely hot by reason of the direct contact of the escaping products of combustion therewith. The air which passes down through the center of the burner is deflected outward by a button,

of the escape-opening, thereby directing the` air against the button and preventing anylateral escape of the air directly beneath the lower or discharge end of the burner-body. When gas first issues from the jet itA is colorless and transparent, and hence has no illuminating value, the ame first becoming luminous at a point some distance from'the jet. I therefore make no attempt to deflect the flame as it first issues from the burner-body, but allow it to follow substantially a vertical course until it is below the lower edge of the cylinder g, the latter being somewhat below the lower or discharge end of the burner-body. At this point the flame is intensely luminous, and is therefore in proper condition to be delected outward or horizontally beneath the cylinder by means of the current under the influence of the defiecting button t. Toin- ,crease the area of this horizontal body of flame, the lower portion of the cylinder g has an outwardly projecting flange, g', around which the flame passes before entering the'discharge-passage J, the mouth a: of which is bounded by the cylinder g and by the lower The air, owing to its de' edge of an inverted conical defiector-W, secured to the lower portion of the shell F. The cone W contracts the inlet a: to the passage J, and thus causes such a sharp draft through the said inlet as will induce the upper edge of the flame to bend sharply inward and rise through the contracted opening, greater steadiness of the flame being thus insured than in the absence of this provision.

In lamps of the class shown difficulty is experienced in lighting the lamp, owing to the fact that the products of combustion have a tendency to escape at the nearest outlet, and hence rise through the air-chamber, instead of seeking the chimney, through which no draft has yet been established. In order to overcome this objection I close the airpassage when the globe is removed to light the lamp, so that there is no outlet for the products of combustion through said passage, and they are consequently compelled to seek the chimney. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the damper for closing the air-passage consists of a ring, V, which is adapted to close the upper end of the chamber I, and is provided with arms o, the lower ends of which project into the path of the globe- A carrying frame Q, so that when the globe is elevated and inits proper position, said frame, by contact with the lower ends of the arms, elevates the same and the damper, so as to permit free ingress of air to the chamber I, the damper falling and closing the chamber,- however, as soon as the globe islowered, in order to gain access to the burner.

I Other forms of damperfmay be used without departing from my invention 5 and so faras this feature of the invention is concerned, I do not limit myself to anyform of damper. In Fig. 7, forinstance, I have shown a perforated ring resting on the top of the air-heating struct-ure, which is supposed to be perforatedin like manner, this rin gbein goperated by the globe-holder through the medium of a rod, o', and bellcrank lever o2. The button t, cylinder g, and cone XV, besides deflecting the flame, are intended to serve as reflectors; and it has been the practice hitherto to make them of porcelain or other refractory material, so as to present a white surface as a background for the flame. This plan is objectionable, however, because it is difficult to produce porcelain deiiectors of exactly the right size and proportions, but mainly because of the fragile character of the material, which frequently breaks when the lamp is in operation, and thus' th rows the lamp out of use until it has cooled sufficiently for the replacing of the broken part. In order to overcome this objection, I make-the deflectorsof metal, preferably cast-iron, and impart a reflecting-surface thereto by coating them with chalk,lime, white clay, or other refractorymaterial of a white or whitish tint, which may be rubbed upon the surface or applied in the form of a solution or wash. I have found by experiment that a surface of this character is not injuriously affected by the heat of the flame, and will retain its reflecting character unimpa'ired for a long time. In the claims I have alluded to the surface as a chalked surface, lime, clay, &c., being considered the equivalents of chalk for the purpose intended.

In inverted lamps such as that of which my improved lamp is an example it has been usual to make the globe S in the form of a section of a sphere, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1; but this form is objectionable, owing to the fact that the distance ofthe globe from the iiame rapidly increases from the point 1,

Iwhere the globe is closest to the iiame, to a central point at the bottom of the globe. This causes such inequality of expansion and contraction as to result in frequent fracture of the globes. I therefore discard the spherical form of the globe, and make the Vlatter with a rounded body, w, and contracted top w', and Hatten the curve abruptly at the bottom 102, so that from yto y2 the globe is substantially equidistant from the flame, a more equable heating of the globe being thus insured and the risk of fracture materially lessened.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper ends of the shells B, D, and F are composed of detachable rings; but, the whole structure may be cast in one piece, if desired.

I am aware that reflectors for lamps have been made of metal shells with enameled` coatings,and I therefore do notclaim,broadly, a reector consisting of such metal shell with a coating servingto reflect the light; but [in a regenerative gas-lamp such as that forming the subject of my invention enameledcoatings are of little avail, owing to the intense heat of the ame, whereas apowdery coating such as that formed by rubbing chalk upon the metal surface of the shell provides a refleeting background which is not injuriously affected by the heat.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a deilectingbutton with a burnerbody inclosing an air-passage and constructed to discharge the gas downward from its lower end, said burner-body having an internal liange, a', Aat the discharge end, whereby the air is directed onto the button and the lateral escape of air directly across the gas-discharging orifices of the burner-body is prevented, allsubstantially as specified.

2. The combination of a burner-body inclosing an air-passage and constructed to discharge the gas downwardly from its lower end, an internal iange, a', at the discharge end of the burner-body, whereby the lateral escape of air directly across the gas-discharging oriiices is prevented, a deflecting-button adjacent to the discharge end of the burner,and an outer deflecting-cylinder inelosing an air-passage, which surrounds the burner-body, the' lower end of said deflector being below the discharge end of the burnerbody, all substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a burnerbodyinclos ing an air-passage and constructed to discharge the gas downwardly from its lower end, an internal flange, a', at the discharge end 'of the burner-body, whereby lateral escape of air directly across the gas-discharging orifices is prevented, a deector-'button adjacent to the discharge end of the burner-body, an outer deflecting-cylinder inclosing an .air passage which surrounds the burner-body, air andgas heating chambers, and a passage for the escape ofthe products of combustion, all substantially as specified. f

4. The' combination of the'iianged globe S, the `frame Q, having a flange, P, and the twopart ring s, having a Hange, s', as set forth.

5. The combination, ina gas-burner, of a burner-body, a passage for the escape of the products of combustion, a chamber for heating the gas, and chambers for heating air before it can gain access to the flame, with a llame-deilector consisting'of a shell of metal having a'powdery coating or deposit of chalk, or its equivalent, upon the surface, all substantially as specified.

6. rIhe combination of the burner-body and ilamedcflectors, constructed as described, whereby the outer portion of the flame-body presents a curved outline, with a globe, S, having a rounded body, w, contracted top w', and flattened bottom w, all portions of said rounded body being substantially equidistant from the 'curved outer portion of the flame-body, all substantially as specitied.

7. The combination of the burner, the pas- I sage for the escape of the products of combustion, a globe inclosing the combustion-chamber, a passage i'or supplying air to the burner, a damper for closing said passage, and means, substantially as described,whereby the globeholder and damper are connected for jointop- JOHN M. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. Davis, HARRY SMITH.

IOO 

